The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-11-08
How to Live Long.

| - paw Va tup iho'H>' va
Sometimes it does not seem to be at all
modified by the prospect of continuous
and severe suffering. But in the desire
of long life we surely should include
the desire for healty life. The ques-
ton of how to live in pypsical sense,
therefore, becomes a subject for care
full study. 1t is all the more important
because the conditions change with the
change Of age. 1t will not do to apply
the methods of infancy or of early life
to middle life and old age.
The great inclination of youth is
to exercise. The free use OF the body
up to the extent of its powers is not
only the means of acquiring more
power, but of retaining what we have.
So we are to insist upon it that all
through the growing period of life the
law of activity prevails. There is no
substitute for it. This tends to prolong
the period of growth. Some have con-
tended that the longer this period can
be made the more likely is long life TO
be secured. Animals that live long are
generally slowest in reaching their
fullest perfection. Food at the early
periods needs to have special reference
to construction. Hence it is that milk
and eggs and all the various foods are
relished in quantities. In childhood,
the healthy appetite accepts all of the
various forms of food. There is growth.
energy and much constructive force,
and so all Of the food elements are
needed. Later on, the person, If wise,
comes to study food and exercise with
reference to the kind of exertion that
is to be put forth.
The indoor life. even il it be one of
toll, must not be dealt with as is the
outdoor life. Sedentary callings must
have some relief by exercise in the
open air if the same food supply is
used Now is the time, too. to study
the tendency of the system. II it is to
/ leanness on the one hand. or plethora
on the other, the fact should govern
the diet. There are some senses in
which the adage is true that man is
either fool or his own doctor at forty.
BY this time he has come to appreciate
some laws of his own constitution. and
to have some experience rs to his ten
denotes If under good self.control,
he will heed these lessons. Not I'M
likely he will need to consult. now and
then, the student of disease, but he
does it to obtain his opinion on the
basis Of his own experience. He
takes him into consultation over
his life. in order that ne may be helped
in deductions therefrom. The law of
plability or adjustment must be stud
led and practised by himself.
Most of those who die between TWEEN
ty-fve and sixty unless they die by &C
cident die by some indiscretion. 1t is
the over-indulgence of appetite, or the
neglect of food when needed, or the
overstrain of business, or exposure to
changes of temperature without cor
responding change of clothing. Most
people of these ages are conscious Of
the error after it has been made, or
others are conscious of it for them.
Without undue captiousness we can
note changed conditions, and adapt
ourselves thereto. Mutitudes die pre-
maturely by reason of an indiscretion
which might have been easily avoided.
1t is intelligent caution that saves sick
ness, and this caution ought to be in
possession and exercise before middle
life. 1t is so much easier to prevent
serious sickness than it is to secure re-
covery from it. Hence il is that. so
many that are deficient in vigor in early
life outlve the vigorous and the care
less. Necessity compels them to study
their changing conditions of health,
and so teach them the benefits of
adaptiveness TO conditions and cir
cumstances.
After middle life il Is always to be
recognized that process of degenera-
ton has begun. The tissues are less
flexible and less easily nourished. Or
gans have not the activity of youth.
Some of them have become more or
less impaired. The safety is in recog.
nizing the fact and treating them accor-
dinghy. 1t is wonderful how the sys-
tenn often bears up under the partial
disability of an organ or a part If there
is adaptation to its weakness. and some
compensation therefor. In u state of